No description available.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1997. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references.

INTRODUCTION Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of an infant‟s life is recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children‟s Fund (UNICEF) as the most effective and essential strategy for optimal growth and prevention of infant mortality. One of the factors that influences a mothers choice to exclusively breastfeed her child, is the marketing of breast milk substitutes. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (ICMBS) was developed to promote, protect and support EBF. Although South Africa (SA) has voluntarily adopted the ICMBS in 1981 to help protect and promote EBF, the exclusive breastfeeding rates in SA remain very low (<8%). In a renewed attempt to protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding in SA, the code has been legislated in December 2012 to ensure compliance. AIM To assess the extent of ICMBS violations in health facilities in four Provinces in SA. DESIGN This was cross-sectional study. A purposive stratified cluster sample of eight to twelve health facilities was drawn in four Provinces (Gauteng, North-West, Free-State and Eastern Cape) in SA. Fixed structured interviews were conducted by trained fieldworkers with three health workers from each of the 40 health facilities to determine the extent of ICMBS violations as well as awareness of the ICMBS. The receipt of free gifts, free/low cost supplies/samples of formula milk, bottles or teats, and free materials or equipment from companies who sell breast-milk substitutes (BMS), infants foods/drinks and bottles or teats (violation of articles 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.8, 7.3 and 7.4 of the ICMBS) were determined. RESULTS A total number of four violations were reported by four health workers from three of the 40 health facilities (7.5%). ICMBS violations were reported only in Gauteng Province with no violations in North West, Free State or Eastern Cape Province. All four violations involved the receipt of free gifts for personal use (including a pen, booklet, calendars and booklet/poster) from a BMS company (Nestlé), violating article 7.3 of the ICMBS. Health workers from four health facilities also reported the receipt of information materials and/or equipment for use in the facility, including leaflets, maternal and infant feeding product booklets and water bags from Nestlé. However, since the brand name of a product within the scope of the ICMBS was not visible on any of the materials or equipment, none of these gifts constituted a violation. In terms of ICMBS awareness, 46 health workers (38%), including the four health workers who received gifts, from 19 health facilities situated mainly in Eastern Cape and Gauteng Province were familiar with the ICMBS. CONCLUSIONS Violations were reported in 7.5% of health facilities, including the health facilities where health workers were aware of the code. Implementation and training of the ICBMS in health facilities is there for warranted. / MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) contributes towards reducing infant and young child mortality however global EBF rates are sub-optimal. One of the factors that influences a mothers‟ choice to exclusively breastfeed her child, is the marketing of breast milk substitutes. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (ICMBS) was developed to promote, protect and support EBF. Although South Africa has adopted the ICMBS, the Code was only legislated in December 2012 to ensure compliance. Aim: To do a baseline assessment of the extent of ICMBS violations in the South African advertising media including magazines, newspapers, television (TV) and radio. Methods: In this cross-sectional study data were collected on multiple occasions. Data were collected by means of recording and/or screening daily broadcasts from four TV channels (SABC 1, 2, 3 and e.tv), nine commercial radio stations, 116 different magazines and 10 different newspapers for ICMBS violations. This study was done within a period of four months between November 2012 and January 2014. Violations pertaining to advertising media include advertising or promoting infant formula, other milk products marketed for children up to 36 months of age (e.g. growing-up milk or follow-on milk), foods for infants younger than six months, any other food or beverages marketed or represented to be suitable for the use as partial or total replacements of breast milk, and feeding bottles and teats to the general public (article 5.1 of the ICMBS). Results: A total number of 30 violations were identified from 117 baby product advertisements that were published in eight of the 169 screened magazines. No violations were found from advertisements on TV, radio or in newspapers. The majority of advertisements that violated article 5.1 of the ICMBS, were advertisements of feeding bottles (60%), followed by advertisements of growing-up milk (20%) and feeding teats (16.7%). Only one violation (3.3%) was an advertisement of infant food for infants younger than six months. Advertisements with violations were advertising baby products from 11 different companies. More than half of the violations (56.7%) were published in two editions from the same magazine, or inserts within that magazine, who‟s target group was pregnant women. Eight advertisements with violations (26.6%) were published in family magazines, three (10%) were published in baby magazines, and two (6.7%) were published in lifestyle magazines. Conclusion: According to the present baseline study, ICMBS violations were only found in a small percentage (4.7%) of magazines targeted mainly at pregnant women. However, although the present study included the majority of available South African magazines distributed in South Africa, not all the available newspapers, TV channels and radio stations were included in the sample size. The true extent of ICMBS violations in the South African advertising media may therefore be higher. It can also not be concluded that BMS companies use only magazines to advertise products pertaining to the scope of the ICMBS. A follow-up study need to determine the impact of legislating the Code on ICMBS violations in advertising media. / MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

INTRODUCTION Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of an infant‟s life is recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children‟s Fund (UNICEF) as the most effective and essential strategy for optimal growth and prevention of infant mortality. One of the factors that influences a mothers choice to exclusively breastfeed her child, is the marketing of breast milk substitutes. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (ICMBS) was developed to promote, protect and support EBF. Although South Africa (SA) has voluntarily adopted the ICMBS in 1981 to help protect and promote EBF, the exclusive breastfeeding rates in SA remain very low (<8%). In a renewed attempt to protect and promote exclusive breastfeeding in SA, the code has been legislated in December 2012 to ensure compliance. AIM To assess the extent of ICMBS violations in health facilities in four Provinces in SA. DESIGN This was cross-sectional study. A purposive stratified cluster sample of eight to twelve health facilities was drawn in four Provinces (Gauteng, North-West, Free-State and Eastern Cape) in SA. Fixed structured interviews were conducted by trained fieldworkers with three health workers from each of the 40 health facilities to determine the extent of ICMBS violations as well as awareness of the ICMBS. The receipt of free gifts, free/low cost supplies/samples of formula milk, bottles or teats, and free materials or equipment from companies who sell breast-milk substitutes (BMS), infants foods/drinks and bottles or teats (violation of articles 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.8, 7.3 and 7.4 of the ICMBS) were determined. RESULTS A total number of four violations were reported by four health workers from three of the 40 health facilities (7.5%). ICMBS violations were reported only in Gauteng Province with no violations in North West, Free State or Eastern Cape Province. All four violations involved the receipt of free gifts for personal use (including a pen, booklet, calendars and booklet/poster) from a BMS company (Nestlé), violating article 7.3 of the ICMBS. Health workers from four health facilities also reported the receipt of information materials and/or equipment for use in the facility, including leaflets, maternal and infant feeding product booklets and water bags from Nestlé. However, since the brand name of a product within the scope of the ICMBS was not visible on any of the materials or equipment, none of these gifts constituted a violation. In terms of ICMBS awareness, 46 health workers (38%), including the four health workers who received gifts, from 19 health facilities situated mainly in Eastern Cape and Gauteng Province were familiar with the ICMBS. CONCLUSIONS Violations were reported in 7.5% of health facilities, including the health facilities where health workers were aware of the code. Implementation and training of the ICBMS in health facilities is there for warranted. / MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Introduction: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) contributes towards reducing infant and young child mortality however global EBF rates are sub-optimal. One of the factors that influences a mothers‟ choice to exclusively breastfeed her child, is the marketing of breast milk substitutes. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (ICMBS) was developed to promote, protect and support EBF. Although South Africa has adopted the ICMBS, the Code was only legislated in December 2012 to ensure compliance. Aim: To do a baseline assessment of the extent of ICMBS violations in the South African advertising media including magazines, newspapers, television (TV) and radio. Methods: In this cross-sectional study data were collected on multiple occasions. Data were collected by means of recording and/or screening daily broadcasts from four TV channels (SABC 1, 2, 3 and e.tv), nine commercial radio stations, 116 different magazines and 10 different newspapers for ICMBS violations. This study was done within a period of four months between November 2012 and January 2014. Violations pertaining to advertising media include advertising or promoting infant formula, other milk products marketed for children up to 36 months of age (e.g. growing-up milk or follow-on milk), foods for infants younger than six months, any other food or beverages marketed or represented to be suitable for the use as partial or total replacements of breast milk, and feeding bottles and teats to the general public (article 5.1 of the ICMBS). Results: A total number of 30 violations were identified from 117 baby product advertisements that were published in eight of the 169 screened magazines. No violations were found from advertisements on TV, radio or in newspapers. The majority of advertisements that violated article 5.1 of the ICMBS, were advertisements of feeding bottles (60%), followed by advertisements of growing-up milk (20%) and feeding teats (16.7%). Only one violation (3.3%) was an advertisement of infant food for infants younger than six months. Advertisements with violations were advertising baby products from 11 different companies. More than half of the violations (56.7%) were published in two editions from the same magazine, or inserts within that magazine, who‟s target group was pregnant women. Eight advertisements with violations (26.6%) were published in family magazines, three (10%) were published in baby magazines, and two (6.7%) were published in lifestyle magazines. Conclusion: According to the present baseline study, ICMBS violations were only found in a small percentage (4.7%) of magazines targeted mainly at pregnant women. However, although the present study included the majority of available South African magazines distributed in South Africa, not all the available newspapers, TV channels and radio stations were included in the sample size. The true extent of ICMBS violations in the South African advertising media may therefore be higher. It can also not be concluded that BMS companies use only magazines to advertise products pertaining to the scope of the ICMBS. A follow-up study need to determine the impact of legislating the Code on ICMBS violations in advertising media. / MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Silicon substituted hydroxyapatite (SiHA) has been reported to produce faster bone in- growth in vitro compared to hydroxyapatite (HA). The mechanism by which silicate ions in these materials trigger bone growth and differentiation remains unclear. In vitro models were used in this thesis to investigate human osteoblast cell responses on exposure to silicon containing materials and silicate ion solutions. The amounts of serum protein bound to SiHA was significantly higher than that in HA (p<O.OOl). Culture of both primary human osteoblast (HOB) cells and an osteosarcoma cell line (MG-63 cells) showed that SiHA discs were biocompatible to the cells; flat cell morphologies, higher degree of cellular processes, and a covering with minuscule bone mineral-like crystals were observed. To elucidate the effects of silicate ions alone on osteoblast functions, a 1000 ppm standard silicon solution was supplemented into cell culture medium to produce silicate ion concentration of 20 and 500 ~M; it was found that the former had little effect on both cell types. Significant increases in levels of total DNA (p<0.001), protein (p<0.001), and collagen (p<0.001) were observed in HOB cells, but not in MG-63 cells, in cultures with 500 ~M silicate ions. Likewise, expression of COL-J al (p<0.001), BMP-2 (p<0.05), PHOSPHO-J (p<0.001) genes were up-regulated in both cells types cultured with 500 ~M silicate ions. Further studies proposed that the activation of cell proliferation by this silicate ion-containing medium, observed as increases in total DNA, involved TGF~1 and/or IGF-I receptors. In trying to understand this, it was latterly identified that the pH changes of the serum- supplemented culture medium that occurred during supplementation with the alkali silicate ion solution and subsequent neutralisation with HCI were the actual cause of the marked enhancement in HOB cell proliferation. Silicate ions did still appear to have a direct effect on some HOB cell responses, due to observing comparable effects of 20 and 500 ~M silicate ions on e.g. TNAP and PHOSPHO-J gene expression, compared to silicate ion-free controls.

Thesis advisor: Utku Unver / This dissertation consists of two chapters. The first chapter: Dynamic reserves in matching markets with contracts. In this paper we study a matching problem where agents care not only about the institution they are assigned to but also about the contractual terms of their assignment so that they have preferences over institution-contractual term pairs. Each institution has a target distribution of its slots reserved for different contractual terms. If there is less demand for some groups of slots, then the institution is given opportunity to redistribute unassigned slots over other groups. The choice function we construct takes the capacity of each group of seats to be a function of number of vacant seats of groups considered earlier. We advocate the use of a cumulative offer mechanism (COM) with overall choice functions designed for institutions that allow capacity transfer across different groups of seats as an allocation rule. In applications such as engineering school admissions in India, cadet-branch matching problems at the USMA and ROTC where students are ranked according to test scores (and for each group of seats, corresponding choice functions are induced by them), we show that the COM with a monotonic capacity transfer scheme produces stable outcomes, is strategy proof, and respect improvements in test scores. Allowing capacity redistribution increases efficiency. The outcome of the COM with monotone capacity transfer scheme Pareto dominates the outcome of the COM with no capacity transfer. The second chapter: On relationships between substitutes conditions. In the matching with contracts literature, three well-known conditions on choice functions (from stronger to weaker)- substitutability, unilateral substitutability (US) and bilateral substitutability (BS) have proven to be critical. This paper aims to deepen our understanding of them by separately axiomatizing the gap between the BS and the other two. We first introduce a new “doctor separability” (DS) condition and show that BS, DS and irrelevance of rejected contracts (IRC) are equivalent to IRC and US. Due to Hatfield and Kojima (2010) and Aygün and Sönmez (2012), it is known that US, “Pareto separability” (PS), and IRC are equivalent to substitutability and IRC. This, along with our result, implies that BS, DS, PS, and IRC are equivalent to substitutability and IRC. All of these results are given without IRC whenever hospital choices are induced from preferences. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2015. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Economics.